Page 69 of From Nowhere

“Who?”

“Everyone else in the house.”

He lifts his eyebrows. “Are you a screamer, Maren?”

I don’t know what I am other than every shade of red imaginable, pitting out profusely.

“I’ll stop before you scream.”

I cough a laugh, refocusing on him. “That sounds like an excuse not to”—I shake my head several times—“satisfy me.” The words come out like a croak as my bravery disintegrates.

“Well, itismy turn.” Ozzy’s head angles to the side while he sizes me up like prey.

I cross my arms over my chest, but it feels unnatural. I thought it would feel more confident, but Ozzy has claimed all the confidence in this room tonight, and I’m grasping for something short of a puddle at his feet. “You have other responsibilities. I shouldn’t be here.”

He chuckles, which flexes his abs even tighter. “Now you sound like Brynn’s mom.”

“How so?”

“I’m pretty sure she thinks I don’t deserve any pleasure.”

“Why?”

His expression falls off his face, replaced with regret, while he averts his gaze. “It’s a long story.”

“I have time.”

Ozzy eyes me. “You specifically said booty call.”

“My booty can wait.”

“I really need you to take off your clothes.” Tension fills his brow.

I only make him wait a few seconds before removing my shirt and tossing it aside, along with my nerves. Realization smacks me upside the head. It’s his confidence. I need the upper hand. I’m a competitor. Confident Ozzy makes me weak in the knees and jittery as hell, but somber Ozzy makes me want to give him pleasure.

I discard my shoes and pants, standing idle momentarily while his gaze roves along my body. It stops at my breasts when I reach behind me to unhook my bra.

I pause for a second to feel the high.

My adrenaline surges, feeding off the fact that he’s waiting for me to show him the parts of my body that he’s touched but never seen. And suddenly, I don’t want to strip anymore. I want to be a poster he pins to his ceiling.

I want those rich brown eyes on me forever.

I want to drown in this warm anticipation until it kills me.

My hands drop to my sides, bra still in place.

Ozzy drags his gaze to mine. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I whisper, taking a step closer to him.

He sits up straight, pulling me to stand between his spread legs. My breath hitches from the heat of his hands on my hips.

I swallow hard. “I like the way you look at me.”

He kisses the swell of my breast. “How do I look at you?”

My eyes drift shut, hands threading through his hair. “Like the sun after forty days and forty nights of rain.”

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